NEW SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO
A
new scholarship has been created at the University of Montevallo. The Rodney
Davis and Mike Strong Chelsea Scholarship has recently been established to
provide financial assistance to a deserving student from Chelsea who is entering
the University of Montevallo.
Mike Strong, a 1972 graduate of the University of Montevallo, and his business partner Rodney Davis, owners of the Chelsea-based Chelsea-One LLC, a land development company, recently made a donation to the University to create the scholarship, and plan to donate the proceeds from the sale of a lot in Lime Creek, their new subdivision in Chelsea, to endow it.
Strong recalls his days at Montevallo fondly, but also remembers that as a student who had to work to earn money to be in school, he had little time to get involved in many of the extracurricular activities on campus. Strong and Davis both grew up in similar circumstances, which fueled their desire to establish this scholarship at Montevallo.
“If a student does have financial aid, they may have the time to explore their studies to the greatest extent and participate in some of the other campus activities that are available instead of having to work all the time,” said Strong.
Prior to getting into land development, Strong owned an advertising agency from which he has retired.
In addition to the scholarship gift given to the University, Strong also donated land for a new fire station in Chelsea. “ . . . I feel you can’t take away from the community and not give back. If you are involved in commerce in the community, you should be involved in the community,” stated Strong.
Strong met his wife of 33 years, Cathy, while he was a student at Montevallo. They have two sons, John Paul and Donald. John Paul graduated from Montevallo in 2002 with a degree in communication studies, and now works for his father.
“Our scholarship at the University is about people helping people. When I look back on my life, I want to be able to say that I helped people, because a lot of people helped me,” Strong said.
For scholarship criteria information, contact Maria Parker, director of student financial aid, at 205-665-6050.